The black grouse is a charismatic upland bird that has declined severely and now requires intensive habitat management at leks and in surrounding moorland and woodland edge habitats.
Black grouse welfare at leks is threatened by disturbance, predation, and habitat degradation. Individual males investing energy in competitive display need safe, undisturbed lek sites. Habitat management creating the mosaic of moorland and scrub they require is essential. The Langholm Moor demonstration project showed that integrated land management benefits black grouse significantly.